Icons and Idiots: Straight Talk on Leadership

Summary

When Bob Lutz retired from General Motors in 2010 after anunparalleled forty-seven-year career in the auto industry, he was one of themost respected leaders in American business. He had survived all kinds ofmanagers over those decades: tough and timid, analytical and irrational,charismatic and antisocial, and some who seemed to shift frequently among allthose traits. His experiences made him an expert on leadership, every bit asmuch as he was an expert on cars and trucks.

Now Lutz is revealing the leaders—good, bad, and ugly—whomade the strongest impression on him throughout his career. Icons and Idiotsis a collection of shocking and often hilarious true stories and the lessonsLutz drew from them. From enduring the sadism of a Marine Corps drillinstructor, to working with a washed-up alcoholic, to taking over the reinsfrom a convicted felon, he reflects on the complexities of all-too-humanleaders. No textbook or business school course can fully capture theiridiosyncrasies, foibles, and weaknesses—which can make or break companies inthe real world.

Lutz shows that we can learn just as much from the moststubborn, stupid, and corrupt leaders as we can from the inspiring geniuses. Heoffers fascinating profiles of icons and idiots such as

• Eberhard von Kuenheim: the famed CEO of BMW was an aristocrat–cum–street fighter who ruled with secrecy, fear, and deft maneuvering.
• Harold A. “Red” Poling: a Ford CEO and the ultimate bean counter. If it couldn’t be quantified, he didn’t want to know about it.
• Lee Iacocca: the legendary Chrysler CEO appeared to be brilliant and bold but was often vulnerable and insecure behind the scenes.
• G. Richard “Rick” Wagoner: the perfect peacetime CEO whose superior intelligence couldn’t save GM from steep decline and a government bailout.